Process and means for producing designs for reproduction



July 24, 1928.

A. FRUWIRTH PROCESS AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING I DESIGNS FOR REPRODUCTIONFiled Sept. 17, 1925 FLT [."W JIUI WIP II!!! g f INVEIYTOR 22 A RNEYPatented July 24, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR FRUWIRTH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Application filed September 17, 1925. Serial No. 56,820.

The invention relates to a method of producing from a suitable originaldesign an additionally ornamented or otherwise elaborated design-bearingproduct by control and variation in the relative positions and relativemovements of the design-bearing elements and light-sensitive surfaces.More particularly the invention relates to a method of producing from.pen and ink drawings,

prints, letter-press proofs, or other originals, executed in sharplines, a design-bearing product, such as a metal plate, by means ofphotography, and wherein the design has the appearance of being raisedin relief, of

being a reproduction of wood carving, clay or wax molding, castings,metal tablets and the like, these efl'ects being produced by lightactionand by positioning and relative motion of the imagebearing andlight-sensitive 2 instrumentalities. The image-bearing product of myprocess may be a printing plate, either half-tone or line work, whichmay be completed by certain final and well-known steps added to theprocess of my present in- 2 vention.

The invention consists in the novel steps, methods, articles,instrumentalities and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, which are very largely diagrammatic incharacter, illustrate certain of the instrumentalities employed, certainsteps of the process, and certain products thereof, and together withthe accompanying description illustrate one em- .35 bodiment of theinvention, both as to the method and product, and together with thedescription serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of-a negative and positive inassociated relation for practicing the process; 4

Fig. 2 is a transverse. vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 1, showingthe instrumentalities thereof subjected to the action of parallel andperpendicular light rays;

Fig. 3 corresponds to Fig. 2, but shows the step of effecting a lightimpression obliquely through the negative and positive Figs. 4, 5, 6 and7 are illustrations of products of certain steps of the invention;

- Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic showing of a. further step in the practice ofthe invention;

Figs. 9 and 10 are of the same character as Figs. 4; t0 7;

Fig. 11 illustrates diagrammatically another step in carrying outcertain steps of the invention;

Figs. 12 to 17 illustrate more or less diagrammatically difl'erentproducts'of my invention.

In the present preferred manner of carrying out my invention, theoriginal designbearing element, or copy as it is called (which may be aline design produced by hand work, or by printing or otherwise), isphotographed to produce anegative in the usual manner, and from thisnegative a positive is made by contact printing in the usual manner.This negative is usually in practical effect a line negative. The termsnegative and positive need have no unnecessarily limited meaning withrespect to the design, but it is understood that in their lights andshadows they are complementary to each other, and are of the same designand scale.

If the negative and positive of the design were placed in contact witheach other, there would be no transmitted light action, as is wellknown. Also if they be spaced apart in exact register, and subjected toparallel light rays, there would be no transmitted light action, as isshown in Fig. 2.

By. my invention, I bring a negative 1, with a light-transmitting design2 thereon,

into accurate register with a positive 3 having the complementary clearglass, and the opaque complementary design 4 thereon.

The positive and negative in this registered relation are separated fromeach other by a short distance, and by any suitable means, as forinstance an interposed plate of clear glass. may be of any known orsuitable kind, is carried on, or supported by, a glass plate or othersuitable support, and is preferably placed in contact with the positive3.

Light is provided from any suitable source (not shown) the light beingprojected 1n substantially parallel rays as indicated by 6. By myinvention I cause the light rays 6 to pass through the transparent ortranslucent parts of the negative and positive in an oblique direction,as shown in Fig. 3. In the particular arrangement shown in Fig. 3, theoblique light action is effected by the light rays which pass throughthe upper part of the negative -1, strike upon the opaque parts of thepositive 3, and have no effect A light-sensitive surface 5, which Ill .kind, and is preferably a developable paper of which there are manydifferent varieties.

By selecting a proper axis of inclination forthe spaced-apart positiveand negative with respect to the light rays, greatly varied effects maybe produced by the action of the light passing therethrough, upon thelightsensitive surface 5, and the shape of the image impressed on thelight-sensitive surface also may be correspondingly varied. Taking anegative and positive bearing the letter L shown in Fig. 1 by Way ofexample, by inclining the negative and positive about a properlyselected axis, a shading 10 may be produced, on the light sensitivesurface 5, at the bottom of the letter and a corresponding shading 11 atthe right-hand side thereof. It will be understood that this is merelyan example of almost number-less effects which may be secured. Thegeneral outline of the remaining portions to the letter are indicatedfor sake of clearness in Fig. 4 by dotted lines 12 and 13,- but it willbe understood that in this instance these lines would not appear uponthe-light-sensitive surface 5, due to the complete blocking of the lightrays by the combined action of the negative and positive. The lightsensitive surface 5, after receiving the light impression as described,may then be developed, and be fur ther treated in any known or desiredmanner to produce any desired final product, as for instance, ahalf-tone or line engraving printing plate.

By my invention further novel effects in the design produced upon thelight-sensitive surface may be 'eflected. If the spaced apart negativeand positive and the light sensitive surface, in addition to beinginclined to the parallel light rays 6 at a desired or predeterminedplane or axis of inclination, are rocked about a selected orpredetermined axis of inclination at uniform speed (or the lightsource'may be correspondingly alter natively moved), the shadow effectof the letter will then be generally similar to Fig. 5, which includesin addition to Fig. 4 the oblique shadowed portions 14 and 15, therebygiving a more finished appearance to the letter.

If it is desired to produce a shaded effect instead of asolid tone orcolor image on the light-sensitive surface, the relative reciprocatorymotion with respect to the light of the negative, positive andlightsensitive surface 5 about their axis may be .Varied in speed sothat the parts next to the letter or other design Will receive thegreatest amount of exposure and light action,-or vice "versa. A gradatedor vignetted effect may be produced on the light-sensitive surface asshown at 17 and 18 in Fig. 6. This effect may be intensified and alsovaried if the negative and positive and light sensitive surface aresimultaneously rotated about two axes, or otherwise varied, theprinciple being the same.

My invention comprises also producing a background design on' the lightsensitive surface. To produce a background of uniform tone, and acomplete outlining by this background of the letter or other design (inaddition to the outlining provided by the shading already described),the light-sensitive surface, already exposed as previously described,may be placed in contact and register with the positive used alone, andsubjected to an additional light exposure of short duration. The.backgroundmay be gradated in tone if desired by varying the amount ofexposure in the different parts. This would give the effect of theshaded letter 'for the design, with either solid or gradated shadingoutlined in white upon a gray background, as indicated at 21in Figs. 7,9 and 10.

To produce ornamentation or other additions upon, that is within thearea of, the letter or design itself, which heretofore has been definedin white, these white portions of the letter or other design may besubjected to treatment as will now be described, or its equivalent. Inthe present preferred manner of carrying out-this step, thelightsensitive surface 5 whichjhas usually already been exposed to lightin the manner pre-" viously described, is placed in register and inspaced-apart relation to the negative alone, as shown in Fig. 8. If thenegative and the light-sensitive surface are again inclined to thedirection of propagation of the light rays at substantially the sameangle as was employed in the first exposure to the light rays, narrowedges 19 and 20, on the upper and left-hand side of the letter areprotected from the rays of light, as shown at 19 in Fig. 8.. After abrief exposure, and development of the light-sensitive surface, the bodyof the letter will be printed with the exception of those narrow lightedges 19 and 20 at the upper and left-hand sides of the letter, as shownin Fig. 9. I In this figure, also, this step is shownin connection withtheproduction of a background for the letter, as already described, andas shown in Fig. 7, and this step is usually preferably employed inconnection with the production of such a background for the letter.

If it is desired to give a rounded, or otherwise modified, effect to thesurface of the letter or other design, this may be effected inaccordance with my invention by reversing the position of the negativeand positive with respect to the direction of propagation of theparallel light rays (as shown in Fig.

11), the positive in this instance being placed toward the light, thepositive and negative being in their spaced-apart relation. Thelight-sensitive surface 5 in this case is placed in contact with thenegative. The instrumentalities as just described are then subjected toexposure from the light rays, inclined in the opposite direction fromthat previously used.

The negative and positive and the lightsensitive surface are preferablykept in motion about their axis during this exposure. The edges of theletter next to the shadows and opposite to the light edging as shown inFig. 9 will be gradated in shade, or' vignetted, and the blending ofthis effect with that previously described will give a strong impressionof roundness and of additional relief to the surface of the letter orother design, as is exemplarily shown in Fig. 10.

The texture of the letter or corresponding design may be otherwisevaried than by shading as already described. As for instance, a negativeor positive, which I will conveniently call a texture negative, may beemployed. This negative could be a photographic reproduction fromspecimens of wood, marble, grained or art papers, or in fact anythingwithin the fancy or taste of the operator. This extra texture negativemay be interposed between the negative '1 and the positive 2 andconstitute the spacing-apart instrumentality, or it may be placedbetween the positive and the lightsensitive surface 5. By such use thereproduction of the texture in the letter, or other design. will beautomatically effected in connection with carrying out the stepsalreadydescribed.

The immediate product of the process as already described is a positiveprint or photograph with various shadings or tints running from pureWhite to black, and with intermediate tones of gray, and producingvarious and artistic effects within and about the design, entirely bythe light action, as' v modified by the position and motion of thevarious instrumentalities. Such a positive print lends itself readily tomaking photo engravings or printing plates by the halftone process,although it is obviously adapted to other uses as well. It ispracticable also to produce as the direct product of the processphotographs for use in ordinary line process work.

In the present preferred manner of car rying out my invention for lineprocess work,

the negative and positive are properly tilted of the letter may betreated, as in the gen-- eral manner already described but producingfigures or texture adaptable for line reproduction, proceedingsubstantially as already described. In practicing the method for use inproducing line process work, special care must be taken that the sourceof light be at a relatively great distance, and that it be as small aspossible, in order to project asharp, and in practical effect parallel,beam of light onto the negative and positive, and to prevent thepossibility of light creeping around the negative or positive,especially in view of the fact that the various instrumentalities arenot in contact with each other.

A complete outline letter or other design may be produced, either largeror smaller than the corresponding parts of the negative and positive, orboth larger and smaller.

In Fig. 12 an outline letter is shown, the outline being on the outsideof the design, While in Fig. 13 a similar outline is shown formed on theinside ofthe design. In producing the effect shown'in Fig. 12 thearrangement is similar to that in Fig. 3 and the lightsensitive surface5 is in contact with the positive. In Fig. 13 a letter is shown, theout-- line being on the inside of the design. In producing the effect ofFig. 13, the positions of the instrumentalities are reversed, and inthis instance the positive is toward the light, and the light-sensitivesurface'is in contact with the negative as shown in Fig. 1 1. The wholeassembly is suitably tilted and rotated about the axis of inclinationand usually kept in motion during a prolonged exposure to secure thepositive black lines. I

If it be desired to combine these effects with a strong block lettereffect, this may be done by combining the procedures previouslydescribed as to Figs. 12 and 5, as will now be obvious, and as shown inFig. 14.

In Fig. 15a corresponding effect, withthe letter or other design inwhite and'with a conventional black block letter shadow is shown, with aline background 22. This may be effected by using a negative of a ruledbackground. After the block letter design is imparted to thelight-sensitive surface 5, as in the manner already described, thesurface 5 is subjected to light action through a line negative, theletter or other design being opaque on the line negative,'therebyproducthe background 22 in Figs. 15, 16 and 17.

mg a background the same as, or similar to, Y

III

The effect shown. in Fig. 16 is produced by printing the letter ordesign on the light sensitive surface 5 while in contact with thenegative 3 only. The light-sensitive surface after. being so exposed islaid in register with, but separated by a small space from,

the positive, the line background negative being preferably interposedbetween them, and the whole is inclined to the direction of the lightrays, and an additional exposure is made. o

In F ig. 17 there is shown a skeleton letter as in Fig. 12, a shadowletter as in Fig. 4, and a light or clear edge tint or area within theletter as shown in Fig. 9. The background is printed in bydirect contactfrom a combination letter: positive and background negative. I

It will be obvious that the foregoing steps may be employed for theproduction of images or-lettering appearing to be in relief, as follows:

The shadows around the letters are produced by spacing apart thepositive and negative and exposing the printing surface, in contact withthe positive, to the action of oblique light passing through bothnegative and positive. a

The tint with the light edge is printed on the face of the lettering byexposing the printing surface to oblique light passing through thenegative alone, no positive being used, andthe printing surfacebeingspaced from the negative. The shading on the shadow side of the face ofthe letter is then produced by exposing the printing surface to theaction of: oblique light passing through the spaced apart posi tive andnegative, with the printing surface in contact with the negative. I

Finally, a background may be printed behind the letters by combining thepositive with'a. special background negative and ex:

posing straight through both. V

Sharp outlines will result from exposure to oblique light withthenegative and positive held stationary. Diffused and softened shadowsand high lights are created by an additional revolving of thenegative'and positive combinations during exposure.

In order to produce lettering which ap-' pears to be carved out, thatis, intagliated 'below the surface as distinguished from letteringappearing to be in relief. as above described, it is necessary. toreverse the positions of the positive and negative as described in theforegoing series of operations. For-example, to produce the shadowwithin the letter, the printing surface, in contact with the negative,is exposed to oblique light passing throughthe spaced apart positive andnegative.

through a spaced positive alone, no negative being used. For the. thirdexposure the I negative and positive are spaced apart, with The nextexposure is made the printing surface in contact with the positive.

The background may now be printed in by exposing through a backgroundnegative and the image negative, with the printing surface in contactwith the image negative, orthe background negative can be placed betweenthe image negative and the printing surface, according to whether asharply outlined or v slightly diffused effect is desired.

The process is adaptable likewise for making color printing plates,either in half-tone or in line, or for other color printing processes.Instead of performing the various sequential steps as already describedon one and the same light-sensitive surface, each step, or varioussuccessive steps, are photographed separately on a new or differentlight-sensitive surface, in accordance with the {method hereinbeforedescribed. From each of these separate prints, or other lightsensitivesurfaces, a suitable printing plate is prepared by the usual, or othersubsequent steps. These'may be proved in an ordinary proof press in thedifierent colored printing inks on a sheet of proofing paper, as forinstance in black for the shadows, green for the face of the letter'orornamental or other design, and brown for the background, or in anyother suitable color combinations as may be desired. I For the purposeof car'ryingout the invention already described, I have invented a boxor holder, provided with a frame and clamps for receiving and holdingthe nega- 1H" tive and positive and the light sensitive memher incorrect register,'and properly spaced apart, and permitting interchangeof positions between these various instrumentalities as may-be necessaryor desired. My apparatus provides also for using a texture negative withor without a clear glass plate, or other proper instrumentality, as thespacing means between the negative and positive.

j This box or holder which I have invented also has-means for effectingthe desired variable inclination relatively to the source of light,either about a single axis, or simultaneo-usly about two axes, by meansof proper pivot bearings, and with clamping or other 116 suitableholding means; and also provides means, such as handles or gearing forrock ing or oscillating the box or holder, with the containedinstrumentalities, either about one or both axes. This mechanismprovides 120 means for interchanging the position of the various membersand instrumentalities without disturbing or losing the correct register,and permits the use of either a negative or a positive alone, and eitherin contact with, or spaced away from, the light-sensitive surface.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theprecise'forms of instrumentalities, nor to the exact described man .130

from without departing from the principles of the invention orsacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. The process of producing a printing plate or otherdesign bearing surface which comprises making a negative of an original,making a positive of the original, placing the negative and positive inspaced apart relation, placing a light-sensitive surface in contact withthe positive, and exposing the light sensitive surface to light passingobliquely through the spaced-apart negative and positive. 1

2. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original, making. apositive of the original, placing the negative and positive in spacedapart relation, and exposing a light-sensitive surface to rays of lightpassing obliquely through the spaced apart negative and positive, and

moving them together about an axis during said light exposure. V

3. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original, making apositive of the original, placing the negative and positive in spacedapart relation, placing a light-sensitive surface in contact With-thepositive, and exposing the light sensitive surface to light passingobliquely through the spaced-apart negative and positive, and movin themtogether about: an axis during said 'ght exposure.

4. The process of producing a printing plate or other designbearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original, makingapositive of the original, placing the negative and positive in spacedapart relation, exposing a light-sensitive surface to rays of lightpassing obliquely through the spaced apart negative and positive, andmoving them together about an axis during the light exposure, andvarying the speed of rotation to gradate the light efiecti 5. Theprocess of producing a printing plate or other design bearing surfacewhich comprises making a negative of an original, making a positive ofthe original, placing the vnegative and positive in spaced apart rela=tion, placing a light-sensitive surface in contact with the positive,and exposing the light-- sensitive surface to light passing obliquelythrough the spaced-apart negative and positive, and movmg them togetherabout an axis during the light exposure and varying the speed ofrotation to gradate the light effect.

6. The rocess of producing a printing plate or ot er design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original, making apositive of the original, placing the negative and positive in spacedapart light sensitive surface to light passing ob-- liquely through thespaced-apart negative and positive, and then exposing said lightsensitive surface in contact with the positive to "light through thenegative alone to produce a shaded background about the design.

7. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original, making apositive of the original, placing the negative and positive in spacedapart relation, exposing a light-sensitive surface to rays of lightpassing obliquely through the spaced apart negative and positive, andfurther exposing the light-sensitive surface in spaced away relation tothe negative to lightpassing through the negative.

8. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original,

making a positive of the original, placing.

the negative and positive in spaced apart relation, exposing alight-sensitive surface to rays of light passing obliquely through torays of light passing obliquely through the spaced apart negative andpositive, further exposing the light-sensitive surface in spaced awayrelation to the negative to light passing through the negative, andmoving the ,negative about an axis during said light exposure to give ashaded effect on the design. q 1

10. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises :making a negative of an original, making apositive of the original, placing the. negative and positive in spacedapart relation, exposing a light-sensitive surface to rays of lightpassing obliquely through i the spaced apart negative and positive,further" exposing the light-sensitiye surface in spaced away relation tothe negative to light passing obliquely through the negative, and

moving the negative'about an axis during said light exposure to give ashaded efl'ect on the design.

11. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original, making apositive of the original, placing the negative and positive inspacedapart relation, exposing a light-sensitive surplate or otherdesign bearing surface which face to rays of light passing obliquelythrough the spaced. apartnegative and positive, and moving them togetherabout a plurality of axes during said light exposure.

12. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative'of an original, 5

making a positive of the original, placing the negative and positive inspaced-apart relation, placing a light-sensitive surface in contact withthe positive, and exposing the light sensitive surface to light passingob-s liquely through the spacedapart negative and positive,v and movingthem together about a; plurality of axes, during said light exposure. Y

13. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface whic comprises making a negative"- of an original, making apositive of the original, placing the negative and positive inspaced-apart contact ,with the positive, and exposing the lightsensitive surface to lightipassing ob liquely through the spaced-apartnegative and positive, and moving them together about a'plurality ofaxes during said light exposure, and varying the speed of rotation togradate the light effect.

15. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original,

making a positive of the original, placing the negative and positive inspaced-apart relation, exposing a light-sensitive surfaceto rays oflight passing obliquely through the spaced-apart negative and positive,and sub: mittingthe design ortion of the light-sensitive surface to ligt action through a tex-- ture negative.

16. The process of producing a printing plate or other design bearingsurface which comprises making a negative of an original, making apositive of the original, placing the negative and positive inspaced-apart relation, exposing a light-sensitive surface to rays oflight passing obliquely through the 0 spaced-apart negative andpositive, and sithrough a texture negative.

multaneously submitting the design portion of the light-sensitivesurface to light action 17. An instrumentality for designs forphoto-mechanical reproduction use in making which comprises a negativeand positive spaced apart and. a member having a lightsensitive surfacein contact with the positive. i

18. An instrumentality for use in making designs for photo-mechanicalreproduction which comprises a negative and positive, a

texture negative in conjunction therewith, and a member having alight-sensitive surfacein contact with the positive.

"19. The process of producing a design bearing surface which comprisesmaking a.

negative of an original, making a positive therefrom, placing thenegative and the positive in spaced apart relatiomexposing a lightsensitive surface incontact with the positive to rays of light passingobliquely through the spaced apart negative and positive, exposing saidlightsensitive surface, while spaced from said negative, to rays oflight passing obliquely through said negative alone, and exposing saidlight sensitive surface in contact with the negative to rays of light,passing obliquely through the spaced apart positive and negative,

20; The process of producing a design bearing surface which comprisesmaking a 1 negative of an original, making a positive therefrom, placingthe negative and the positive in spaced apart relation, exposing a lightsensitive surface in contact with the positiveto rays of light passingobliquely through the spaced apartnegative and positive, exposing saidlight sensitive surface, while spaced from said negative, to rays oflight passing obliquely through said negative alone, exposing said lightsensitive surface in contact with the negative to rays of light passingobliquely through the spaced apart positive and negative, and exposingsaid light sensitive surface to rays of light passing perpendicularlythrough said positive and a background" negative.

21. The process,of producing a design bearing surface which comprisesmaking a negative of an original, making a positive therefrom, placingthe negative and the positive in spaced apart relation, exposing a lightsensitive surface in contact with the positive to rays of light passingobliquely through the spaced apart negative and positive whilesimultaneously rotating the assembly of light sensitive surface,positive i and negative about an axis, exposing said,

light sensitive surface, while spaced from said negative, to rays oflight passingobliquely through said 'negative alone, and

exposing said light sensitive surface in contact' with said negative torays of light passing obliquely through the spaced apart positive andnegative while simultaneously rotating the assembly of light sensitivesur-' face, negative and positive about an axis.

22. The process of producing a design bearing surface which comprisesmaking a negative of an original, making a positive therefrom, placingthe negative and the positive in spaced apart relation, exposing a lightsensitive surface in contact With the positive to rays of light passingobliquely through the spaced apart negative and positive Whilesimultaneously rotating the assembly of light sensitive surface,positive and negative about an, axis, exposing said light sensitivesurface, While spaced from said negative, to rays of light passingobliquely through said negative alone, exposing said light sensitivesurface in contact with said negative to rays of light passingobliquelythrough the spaced apart positive and negative whilesimultaneously rotating the assembly of light sensitive surface,negative and positive about an axis, and exposing said light sensitivesurface to rays of light passing perpendicularly through said positiveand a background negative.

23. The process of producingdesign bearing surfaces to be'used in makingcolor printing plates, which comprises making a negative reproductionand a positive reproduction of a line original, and from these making aplurality of' photographic prints bearing respectively modifications ofthe design, one suchprint being produced by spacing apart saidreproductions and exposing a light sensitive surface to rays of lightpassing' obliquely therethrough, another such print being produced byexposing another light sensitive surface to rays of light passingobliquely through only one of said reproductions, and separatelyutilizing said prints so made for, making printing plates forrespectively different colors.

24:. The process of producing design bearing surfaces to be used inmaking color printing plates, which comprises making a negativereproduction and a positive reproduction of a line original, and fromthese making a plurality of photographic prints bearing respectivelymodifications of the design, one such print being produced by spacingapart saidreproductions and exposing a ight sensitive surface to rays oflight passing obliquely therethrough, another such print being producedby exposing another light sensitive surface to rays of light passingobliquely through only one of said reproductions, another such printbeing produced by spacing apart said reproductions and exposing anotherlight sensitive surface to rays of light passing obliquely throughsaidreproductions in reverse order with respect to the first namedexposure, and separately utilizing said prints so made for makingprinting plates for respectively different co ors.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my

